Frank t



(No Model.)

Patented June 9, 1896.

w, C. W W nO 1w l Nin. duh 1 M Mm i C a r/w/ UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

FRANK T. STACY, OF NEWT YORK, N. Y.

PORTABLE FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 561,733, dated J' une 9, 1896.

Application filed November 23,1895. Serial No. 569,911. (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK T. STACY, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to cert-ain improvements in re-escapes, and has for its object to provide an improved form of portable escape of simple and compact construction, as more fully set forth hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a longitudinal sectional elevation of a portable tire-escape constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; and Figs. 3, l-, and 5 are sectional plan views on the lines 3 3, -i 4, and 5 5, respectively.

The device forming the subj ectl of my invention comprises a main body portion or block A, upper and lower sets of handles B B', a bodyestrap C, and a rope D, arranged as described hereinafter.

The block A is provided with a tortuous passage o, terminating at the upper and lower ends of the block, and through this passage passes the rope D, one end of which may be secured to any fixed point, while the opposite end hangs down toward the ground.

The handles B B each comprise two similar sections b Z2, each section being pivoted on a pin a', passing through the block, and the inner adjacent faces of each section being pro vided with a semicircular groove b', in which the rope D is guided. The free ends of the sections of the handles are preferably connected by small springs c, which holdthem in contact with the rope and in proper relative position, while at the same time permitting the spreading of the sections to accommodate ropes of varydng diameter. y

Through the center of the block passes a band C, which is continued in the form of a loop adapted to pass around the body of the operator and support him during the descent, the upper portion only of said band or loop being shown in the drawings.

In operation the upper end of the rope D is secured to any stationary object, and after the opposite end of the rope is lowered the operator passes the looped band C around his body, preferably under the arms, and then tightly grasps the lower handle B', forcing the two sections of the handle into contact with the rope and preventing a sudden descent. The pressure exerted upon the sections of the handle maybe altered as desired, and as the friction upon the rope is reduced the weight of the bodywill carry the person downward. After the first person escapes or is lowered the rope, with the device at its lower end, may be quickly raised and the lower end of the rope fastened in place, while the previously-secured upper end is loosened and thrown down to the ground, so that a second person may escape inthe same manner by then catching hold of the handle B, which is then the lowermost handle. In this manner much time may be saved, as it is not necessary to draw the rope through the block to render the escape serviceable after having once been used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A nre-escape comprising in combination, a rope, a central block A, having a tortuous passage a, handles B, at the opposite ends of the block, each handle comprising grooved sections Z9, b, pivot-pins c extending through said central block and handle sections, springs c, uniting the sections Z9, b, of said handles, and a body band or loop depending from said central block, substantially as sp ecilied.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK T. STACY. llfitnesses:

HERBERT Foss, JOHN HIGGINSA 

